Astragalosidic Acid: A New Water-Soluble Derivative of Astragaloside IV Prepared Using Remarkably Simple TEMPO-Mediated Oxidation.

There is an urgent need for a water-soluble derivative of astragaloside IV for drug R&D. In the present study, a remarkably simple method for the preparation of such a water-soluble derivative of astragaloside IV has been developed. This protocol involves oxidative 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl free radical (TEMPO)-mediated transformation of astragaloside IV to its carboxylic acid derivative, which is a new compound named astragalosidic acid.

Quick and selective extraction of Z-ligustilide from Angelica sinensis using magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotubes.

A facile and highly efficient magnetic solid-phase extraction method has been developed for Z-ligustilide, the major therapeutic agent in Angelica sinensis. The solid-phase adsorbent material used was prepared by conjugating carbon nanotubes with magnetic Fe3 O4 nanoparticles via a hydrothermal reaction. The magnetic material showed a high affinity toward Z-ligustilide due to the π-π stacking interaction between the carbon nanotubes and Z-ligustilide, allowing a quick and selective exaction of Z-ligustilide from complex sample matrices.

Metabolic study of Angelica dahurica extracts using a reusable liver microsomal nanobioreactor by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Highly active and recoverable nanobioreactors prepared by immobilizing rat liver microsomes on magnetic nanoparticles (LMMNPs) were utilized in metabolic study of Angelica dahurica extracts. Five metabolites were detected in the incubation solution of the extracts and LMMNPs, which were identified by means of HPLC-MS as trans-imperatorin hydroxylate (M1), cis-imperatorin hydroxylate (M2), imperatorin epoxide (M3), trans-isoimperatorin hydroxylate (M1') and cis-isoimperatorin hydroxylate (speculated M2'). Compared with the metabolisms of imperatorin and isoimperatorin, it was found that the five metabolites were all transformed from these two major compounds present in the plant.

Selective extraction of berberine from Cortex Phellodendri using polydopamine-coated magnetic nanoparticles.

A new extraction agent featuring dopamine self-polymerized on magnetic Fe3 O4 nanoparticles has been successfully synthesized and evaluated for the SPE of berberine from the extract of the traditional Chinese medicinal plant, Cortex Phellodendri. The nanoparticles prepared possessed a core-shell structure and showed super-paramagnetism. It was found that these polydopamine-coated nanoparticles exhibited strong and selective adsorption for berberine.

Vesicular gold assemblies based on host-guest inclusion and its controllable release of doxorubicin.

We have developed a kind of gold nanoparticle (AuNP) in which polyethylene glycol (PEG) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) are attached on the surface of a gold nanocrystal through the host-guest inclusion between adamantane groups (ADA) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). The resulting AuNPs become amphiphilic in water above body temperature and self-assemble into vesicles. It is found that these vesicles can load doxorubicin (Dox) effectively.

Synthesis of biocompatible hybrid magnetic hollow spheres based on encapsulation strategy.

A kind of novel magnetic hollow spheres was prepared by encapsulating magnetofluid into polymeric hollow spheres. Polymeric hollow nanospheres were constructed by self-assembly of rod-coil complexes, in which the rod-like segments were formed by inclusion of α-cyclodextrins (α-CD) and grafting poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains of chitosan-graft-PEG (CS-g-PEG). Structural characteristics of CS-g-PEG/α-CD hollow spheres were investigated in detail by NMR, XRD, TEM, etc.

[Chemical constituents contained in seeds of Notopterygium franchetii].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents from the seeds of Notopterygium franchetii.

Method: Ethanol extracts of seeds N. franchetii were separated and purified by such methods as normal and reversed phase column chromatographies and thin-layer chromatography and structurally elucidated by MS and NMR evidences.

[Studies on chemical constituents from fruits of Forsythia suspense].

Twenty-four compounds in the fruits of Forsythia suspensa were isolated and purified by column chromatography and preparative TLC. On the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic methods including IR, ESI-MS/MS, 1D and 2D NMR, these compounds were identified as ten ceremides (1-10), six triterpenes (11-16), one steroids (17), three flavonoids (18-20), two C6-C2 alcohols (21-22) and two lignans (23-24). Compounds 1-10 were reported from F.

A new dimeric iridal triterpenoid from Belamcanda chinensis with significant molluscicide activity.

An unprecedented dimeric triterpenoid, designated dibelamcandal A, with a six-membered ring linking two iridal type triterpenoid nuclei, was isolated from the rhizome of Belamcanda chinensis. Its structure was determined by extensive spectroscopic measurements, including IR, ESI-MS, HR-ESI-MS, and 1D and 2D NMR. It demonstrated significant molluscicide activity against Pomacea canaliculata.

Two new triterpene saponins from the aerial parts of Paraquilegia microphylla.

Two new triterpene saponins, paraquinosides A (1) and B (2) were isolated from the aerial parts of Paraquilegia microphylla (Royle) Dromm. et Hutch, a Tibetan ethnic medicine distributed in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. On the basis of 1D and 2D NMR evidence, their structure was elucidated as 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-15-dehydroxyl-16-O-methyl-24, 25-deoxy-26-hydroxylshengmanol-26-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) and 3-O-alpha-L-Rhamnopyranosyl (1-->2)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-15-dehydroxyl-16-O-methyl-24, 25-deoxy-26-hydroxylshengmanol-26-O-beta-D- glucopyranoside (2), respectively.

Chemical constituents from the aerial parts of Artemisia minor.

Four new compounds including three bicoumarins, arteminorins A-C (1-3), and one neolignan, arteminorin D (4), together with 31 known ones were isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia minor. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic data and comparison with those of the related known compounds. Ethyl caffeate (27) showed in vitro cytotoxicity against the HepG2 cancer cell line.

A false positive F-FDG PET/CT scan caused by breast silicone injection.

We present here the case of a 40-year-old woman with a greater than 10 year prior history of bilateral breast silicone injection and saline bag implantation. Bilateral palpable breast nodules were observed, but the ultrasound scan was suboptimal and the magnetic resonance imaging showed no gadolinium-enhanced tumor. The (18)F-FDG PET/CT scan showed a hypermetabolic nodule in the left breast with a 30% increase of (18)F-FDG uptake on the delayed imaging, and this mimicked breast cancer.

A new alkaloid from Corydalis hendersonii.

A new isoquinoline alkaloid (6), along with nine known ones (1-5, 7-10), was isolated from the plateau plant Corydalis hendersonii, which is used as a traditional Tibetan medicine. The structure of the new compound was elucidated as 9-methyldecumbenine C by spectroscopic evidence.

[Chemical constituents of aerial part of Acalypha australis].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents in the aerial part of Acalypha australis.

Method: The aerial part of Acalypha australis were extracted with EtOH at room temperature. The compounds were separated by various kinds of chromatographic methods and their structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic techniques.

Semi-permeable nanocapsules of konjac glucomannan-chitosan for enzyme immobilization.

Carboxymethyl konjac glucomannan-chitosan (CKGM-CS) nanocapsules, spontaneously prepared under very mild conditions by electrostatic complexation, were used for immobilizing L-asparaginase. The matrix has semi-permeability to allow the substrate and product to pass through and to keep L-asparaginase in the matrix to prevent leaking. The cell-like hydrogel matrix was prepared in aqueous system without organic solvents and reagents.

Verticillium infection--a rare cause of hepatosplenic abscesses.

We report a rare case of hepatosplenic abscesses caused by Verticillium spp. in a 40-year-old female leukemic patient. Identification of the microorganism was based on amplification of the D1-D2 region of the large-subunit RNA gene from DNA extracted from paraffin sections of liver tissue, followed by sequencing of the amplified polymerase chain reaction product.

Two new triterpenoid saponins from Gymnema sylvestre.

Two new oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins, gymnemoside-W1 and W2, together with seven known compounds were isolated from the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre R. Br. By means of spectral and chemical analysis, the structures of the new compounds were elucidated as 16 beta-hydroxyl olean-12-en-3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside(1) and 16 beta,21 beta,28-trihydroxyl-olean-12-ene-3-O-glucoronopyranoside (2).

Minor iridoids from the roots of Valeriana wallichii.

Four new iridoids, valeriotetrates B and C (1 and 2), 8-methylvalepotriate (3), and 1,5-dihydroxy-3,8-epoxyvalechlorine A (4), together with three known iridoids, were isolated from the roots of Valeriana wallichii. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by analysis of 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS data. Compound 4 is an unusual iridoid bearing a C-10 chloro group and an oxo bridge connecting C-3 and C-8, resulting in a rigid skeleton.

Detection of carbonyl groups in triterpenoids by hydroxylamine hydrochloride derivatization using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

A rapid, simple electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) sensitivity enhancement method for detecting carbonyl groups in triterpenoids has been developed by using hydroxylamine hydrochloride (NH(2)OH . HCl) as a derivatization reagent. We use the oxime formed during the derivatization reactions and its Beckmann rearrangement intermediates as a means of detecting the carbonyl groups originally present in these triterpenoids.

Two new diterpenes from Euphorbia kansuensis.

Two new lathyrane diterpenes, 3beta,5alpha-dihydroxy-15beta-cinnamoyloxy-14-oxolathyra-6Z,12E -diene (1) and 3beta,5alpha,20-trihydroxy-15beta-cinnamoyloxy-14-oxolathyra-6Z,12E-diene (2), were isolated from the roots of Euphorbia kansuensis. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods.

Negative electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric investigation of ent-kaurane diterpenoids from the genus Isodon.

ent-Kaurane diterpenoids are a class of natural compounds isolated from genus Isodon, which have been found to have important bioactivities. Negative electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry ((-)ESI-MS(n)) was used to investigate the fragmentation pattern of C-20-nonoxygenated ent-kauranes and two subtypes of C-20-oxygenated ent-kauranes by using an ion trap instrument and accurate mass measurement on an ESI-Q-time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer. The analysis revealed that loss of CH(2)O or CO(2) is the predominant process for 7, 20-epoxy and 7, 20 : 14, 20-diepoxy subgroup of C-20-oxygenated ent-kauranes.

Phenyl and phenylethyl glycosides from Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora.

A new phenyl glycoside, scrophenoside D (1) and a new phenylethyl glycoside, scroside F (2), together with three known phenylethyl glycosides, scroside A (3), plantainoside D (4), and plantamajoside (5), were isolated from the stems of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods.

A triterpene glycoside from black cohosh that inhibits osteoclastogenesis by modulating RANKL and TNFalpha signaling pathways.

Osteoporosis is a major age-related source of morbidity and mortality. Increased bone resorption mediated by osteoclasts is central to its pathogenesis. Cytokines, particularly RANKL and TNFalpha, are often increased under pathologic conditions, leading to enhanced osteoclastogenesis.

[Studies on chemical constituents of Eriophyton wallichii].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of Eriophyton wallichii.

Method: The constituents were isolated and purified by silica gel column and Sephadex LH-20 chromatography. Their structures are elucidated by physicochemical properties and spectral analysis.

Cimicifugadine from Cimicifuga foetida, a new class of triterpene alklaoids with novel reactivity.

[structure: see text] An unprecedented triterpene alkaloid glycoside, designated cimicifugadine (1), with a pyridine ring incorporated to a cycloartane triterpenoid nucleus, was isolated from the roots of Cimicifuga foetida. Its structure was established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic measurements and chemical transformation with the absolute configuration at C-24 determined to be S by a modified Mosher method. It demonstrated a novel reactivity in mild acidic media whereby the cyclopropane ring is opened followed by the formation of two isomeric conjugated trienes.